Turkish Airlines Open: Rory McIlroy back in contention for European top spot

He has yet to drop a shot in his two rounds

Rory McIlroy shot 67 to close to within four shots of the lead in the Turkish Airlines Open yesterday (Getty)

World No 3 Rory McIlroy is four shots off the lead at the Turkish Airlines Open after another 67 in yesterday’s second round in Antalya.

That leaves him 10 under behind South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl, with England’s Richard Bland and Chris Wood joint second. It means the Northern Irishman is in prime position to make a weekend charge for the £740,000 top prize that would all but secure his status as Europe’s No 1 for the third time.

He has yet to drop a shot in his two rounds as he seeks his first tournament win since sustaining an ankle injury in July which stopped him defending his Open Championship title.

“They’re as stress-free two 67s as I have shot all year. I definitely feel like there’s a lot more to come,” he said. “When I looked at the leaderboard on the fourth hole I was 10 shots back, so to go from there to only four back going into the weekend, it’s really not that much.” He predicted a winning score of between 20 and 25 under par and added: “I definitely feel like there’s a 62 or a 63 out there for me.”

McIlroy’s prediction of low scores was supported by the second round of Matt Fitzpatrick, the former US Open Amateur champion and rising star of English golf, after his breakthrough win at Woburn. The 21-year-old from Sheffield went 10 shots better off than his opening round with a 63, featuring nine birdies.

Bland’s 65 was helped by a front nine of just 28 shots to go 12 under par as Wood hit a second successive 66. “I got told in the middle of the first fairway that I had sold my house and thought ‘All right, better try to pay for the new one’,” said Bland, who is seeking his first European Tour success in his 370th event.

Leader Van Zyl followed his opening 61 with a second-round 69 to stand on 14 under par. England’s Lee Westwood could only add a 71 to his opening 64 to finish nine under par alongside Ryder Cup team-mate Graeme McDowell, who shot a 65.